Tell me about this outlet

zingo

It's from our cabin built in 1961, on a 20A 120v breaker, but the blade acceptance doesn't make sense for me.

nooshinjohn

Looks audiophile grade to me... maybe early PS Audio?

Dennis Gardner

Normally I would say that it is a standard 20 amp receptacle, we are used to seeing 15 amp versions. A 20 amp male plug has one horizontal and one vertical prong. The 20 amp wall plug can accept both 15 and 20 amp plugs, but something that needs 20 amps puts the odd male plug on to keep you from under supplying it by plugging it into a 15 amp circuit. That is an old one that doesn't have the ground pin though. It is odd to see that it has 15 amp stamped on it, and it can accept the horizontal prong in either side, so it seems to be weird for sure.

zingo

It has a very solid build. Maybe I'll try it on my system?

lightman1

Pre 1964-66. About the era when polarized equipment was gaining ground. (get it? Ground?)
But the cord and plug equipment less than 20A was being standardized around 1959. This is an early example of a transitional duplex outlet from that era.
Bakelite is the best insulating medium know to man.

lightman1

I learnt from the bestest.

zingo

This outlet is polarized, and were there plugs in the late 50's/early 60's that has two horizontal blades? Ungrounded is not uncommon for the era, but it clearly was designed for accepting something beyond 15A 120v?

lightman1

Jake....it's an early version of what is now known as a NEMA 6-15 240V. A kinda universal receptacle at that time.
It accepts voltages "up to" 240V. In most configurations of cord and plug at that time.

F1nut

That is one dumb m0f0.......LOL

[Deleted User]

^^^ if he did it twice, I agree.

[Deleted User]

So anyway, if you want to upgrade your outlet go for the best.
for example only:
https://www.tweekgeek.com/audiophile-tweaks/furutech-gtx-d-r/?gclid=CKOy547q39ICFZaFswodBPYIgA

or maybe
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FURUTECH-GTX-D-R-20A-Wall-Socket-Outlet-Rhodium-Plated-GTX-DR-Japan-Brand-NEW-/181888901305?hash=item2a596c60b9:g:kZUAAOSwpDdVNIrb

OTOH, you are fixing the middle of the chain.

tratliff

If you want to replace it with Furutech talk to Doug. He can get the Furutech line and has many items on hand.

zingo

Thanks ya'll! The outlet is where my wife has her treadmill plugged in, so the contractor grade NEMA 5-20 I swapped in will be just fine. I had just never seen that outlet before, and it's the only one of its kind on our property.

zingo

Looks like each side is common like a standard outlet. So it's be hot-hot with no neutral for 220? So if you plug a 120 appliance when the socket wired for 220 you got a problem then. It's a fun study on NEMA standards!

decal

It's old, get rid of it.

tonyb

decal wrote: »

It's old, get rid of it.

....and that's all ya need to know. lol Plus the amount of carbon build up doesn't exactly look promising.